Articulator



1 644106 Oct. '4 1927' w. G. BRIDGE ARTIGULATOR Filed Jan. 25, 1926 Patented Get. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER G. BRIDGE, OF NEVTQN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES PARK- HURST, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

AR TICULATOR.

This invention relates to the class of devices known as dental articulators. These devices as generally'made are designedjto hold dentures for the proper shaping of false teeth, inlays, crown and bridge work,

and the like, and usually have a hinged support for at least one of the denturesto enable them to be moved in relation to each other in order to simulate the conditions of mandibular movement. Being provided with hinge oints such articulators have had the disadvantage that they failed to reproduce fully the grinding action of the human masticatory apparatus as ordinarily taking place.

It is a well known fact that the mechanism of the human masticatory system is so arranged that the teeth are not only brought into abutting relation but also into a grinding relation, tending to have a limited forward and backward as well as a. sidewise motion. The chief object of the present invention is the provision of a dental articulator in which the mandibular motions and theocclusal relations of the human jaw may be accurately simulated to enable dentures to be produced. which will be more satisfactory in use and will need substantially no reshaping or trimming after they have been fitted into the mouth of the patient. With this end in view the present invention provides an articulator not only enabling pivotal movement of the dentures in relation to each other but independent movement of each end of the pivotal axis along a predeterminedpath which may itself be moved to various adjusted positions; also providing means whereby a relative sidewise movement may be imparted to the dentures when supported upon the articulator. A further object of the invention is the provision of an articulator of this type which may be inexpensive to manufacture, and in which the oppositely may be readily disassembled to facilitate-the fitting of the dentures thereto. I

Fig. l is a plan view of the dental articulat-or;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section showing the articulator in operative position; I

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 41 is an elevational view of the articulator.

An articulator made in accordance with the disposed denture supports l'ti at this invention may be Applicatiomfiled January 25, 1926. Serial No. 83,468.

formed of a wide variety of materials assembledv in accordance with different designs, but wire, preferably of semi-circular cross section, constitutes advantageous material. for forming the framework of the articulator such material being utilized in the embodiment of the preferred form of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

In this embodiment the supporting frame 1 is formed of two substantially similar members 3 and 4: which are constructed of a ends of the wires which comprise frame members 3 and 4 respectively, and the main 'portion of each of these members consists of an upwardly extending arm 8 formed by bending a portion of the wire back upon itself with a binding ring 18 holding the wire sections in abutting relation near the base of the frame. The supporting projections 19, formed by the wire ends'adjacent extensions 6 and 7, may project approximately at right angles to the latter and to the arms 8. In each of the arms 8 the wire sections slightly diverge from the ring 18 towards a substantially circular loop 9 at the upper part of the arm 8. A supporting blocklO, with a peripheral groove 12 engaging the loop 9, is located at the upper end of each of the upright portions 8. A thumb nut 11 is threaded upon the diverging portions of the wire below the loop 9, being provided with a flared portion engaging the diverging wire sections adjacent its upper face. Tightening of the nut 11 causes the loop 9 to grip the block 10 firmly in position, while loosening ofthe nut 11 enables the diverging portions of the wire to spring slightly apart, thus permitting the turning of block 10 within loop 9.

'A radial slot 13 is providedin each of the blocks 10 and is designed to receive the pintle portion 24 of a support 16.which ma be any suitable form to engage biteblocl; 22 carrying: the upper denture. Such a frame mere er 16 maybe ei substantially rain to suitthe individual case.

dent that blocks 22 and 23 may be moved A-shape, as shown, with the triangular porvary-the location of the slots to suit indi vifdual'conditions as indicated for example in full anddotted'lines in Fig. 2. Adicming the shoulders 25 are the annular washers.

26 having convex surfaces adjoining the slots 13 which have their edges slightly beveledas indicated more'particularly at 14:

in the'cross sectional view of Fig. 3 The beveled edges of the slots'and the curved washers areadapted to cooperate to permit movement of the pin tl'es 24 in relation to the slots Without any tendency to bind and with the minimum of frictional resistance.

"The operation ofmy improved articulator is substantially as follows: Blocks or models 22 and 23 having beenprepared with dentures properly located thereon, frame mem bers 3and 4 are separated-from each other sufiiciently to permit the withdrawal oi .pi-ntles 24- trom slots 13. The upper block 22 may then be fitted to the support 16 in any suitable way as by adding a layer 01": soft laster of Paris to its upper surface in whic the support 16 may be-embedded. Support 16 is then re-assembled with trains members 3 and 4: which are spaced at a; distance'apart to provide a clearaaicebetweenithewashers 26 and the blocks 10 if desired, The lower block23 is then secured to theprojections 19v at the base or the device preferably by 1 having these arms inserted in, the-block at an angle, as shownin Fig. 2.7 It neeessaryblocks 1 0 are adjusted tofwh'atever position may be desirable in order to dispose-radialslots 13 at the proper angle It is thus eviin. relation to each other not only about the axis defined by the pivot members -but along the; predetermined paths determined by the "'adjnstedlocation of slots 13, as well as in accordancewith the transverse movement permitted by an endwise motionof the-pintle members, so that a relative movement in practically any desired direction can take aplace between the abutting dentures and movement. along the occlusal curve may be closely simulated, thus enabling dentures to be produced under conditions closely resembling-those normally found in the human month. In certain cases the ductility of the wire will enable the relative location of parts of the articulator to be varied, for eX- ample the Width of the support 16 may easily be altered within reasonable"limitsby bendingits apex and thus the width of the entire device may be changed.

I claim 1 A dental articulator consisting of pivoted, denture supports, one of said supports being formed of wire of semi-circular cross section,'portions of which are bent back upon themselvesan'd fused into cylindrical pintles pivotallyto engage the other denture support.

2. A'dental articul'ator consisting of pivoted denture supports, one of said supports being formed of wire or semi-circular cross section, portions of which are bent'back upon themselves and have their flat surfaces secured in abutting relation by clips, the ends of these portions beingfused into cylindrical pintles of reduced cross sectionprovided with shoulders at their juncture with the abutting wire portions engaged by the clips.

A dental articulator having a frame connecting a pair of denture supports, said frame consisting of two parts adapted to be held in normal engagement by one of the denture models Whichis detachably mounted thereon. 7

4. Afdental articulator havinga frame connecting a pair of denture supports, said frame consisting of two parts held in normal engagement pivotallyto support a denture support and being separable'to permit the disengaging of the denture support,

said parts being adapted to be held in normal engaging position by a denture model secured thereto and being releasable from said ,position by the detachment of said model. a i

5. A dentalarticulator having a frame 'connectinga pair of denture supports, said frame consisting of two parts each having a portion of substantially semicircular cross section normally held in engagement with a similar portion'ot the, other art by "means of a sleeve element having a frictional engagement with said portions, saidlparts'in their normal position being adapted'to have a denture support pivotally connected thereto and. beingsepar able by relativelongitudina-l-sliding of the semi-circular portions in' the sleeve to permit detachmentoi said support, said frames being adapted to be held in their normal position by a denture model secured thereon, and being releasable from said position by therenioval of said model.

6.. A dentalarticulator comprising a pair of denture supports pivotally connected to each other by means comprising pintles' engageable in slots in blocks, said pintles being provided with shoulders adjoining theslots,

- and said slots having beveled edges adjoin-- and washers having convex outer surfaces disposed upon said pintles between the shoulders and blocks being adapted to engage the slots and to permit free relative movement of the pintles in relation to the slots.

7. A dental articulator comprising a pair of denture supports pivotally connected to each other by means comprising pintles in slidable engagement with slotted members, said pintles being provided with washers having convex surfaces adjoining the, slots ing said washers, relative engagement of the concave and beveled surfaces being designed to permit free sliding and pivoting between the pintles and slotted members.

8. A dental artic-ulator having a pair of denture supports pivotally connected to each other by means comprising a semi-circular resilient wire formed into a substantially circular loop with its fiatsurface engaging a circular groove in a block within the loop, screw-threaded means in adjustable engagement with a portion of the wire adjacent the loop and adapted to draw the loop into firm gripping relation in the block or to permit the loose engagement of the loop with the block.

9. A dental articulator having a pair of denture supports pivotally connected to each other by means comprising a semi-circular resilient wire formed into a substantially other so that the flat surfaces thereof are in abutment at a distance from the loop, the

inclined portions of the wire being threaded and engaging an internally threaded member adapted to draw the loop into tight gripping relation with the block.v

10. A dental articulator having a pair of denture supports pivotally connected to each other by means comprising wire element-s formed into substantially circular loops engaging circular grooves in blocks within the loops, portions of the wire adjacent the 100 s being slightly separated and inclined towar s each other so that their surfaces are in substantially abutting relation at a distance from the loop, each of the inclined wire portions being provided with threads upon its surface which is spaced away from the adjoining inclined wire portion and an internally threaded member engaging these threaded wire portions and being adapted to draw each loop into tight gripping relation with the block.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this sixteenth day of January, 1926.

WALTER e. BRIDGE. V 

